FAQs
Location, Parking, & Hours
Where are you located?
Our office is located at 145 North Crest Boulevard in Macon, Georgia (31210). You’ll find a link to Google Maps here.
What kind of parking is available?
Plenty of parking is available in front of our building just a few feet from our entrance. Our building is single story and handicap-friendly.
What are your office hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5pm. We are closed daily for lunch from 12 to 1:30pm.
Financial Questions
What insurances do you accept?
We accept most private insurances including Blue Cross, Aetna, Secure Health, United Healthcare, Principal, etc. Call our office to verify that your insurance is one of our accepted plans. If we do not accept your insurance, or you do not have health insurance, you may pay in full at the time of your child’s visit. We are willing to work with parents to set up payment plans if that becomes necessary.
What kinds of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, personal checks, Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express. You can also pay online here.
Do I have to pay a co-pay every time my child is seen?
Yes. If your insurance plan has a co-payment, we are obligated by your insurance company to collect a co-payment from you each time that you are seen. This is a requirement of your insurance company and is part of your contract with them.
Can you bill my co-pay to me?
According to your contract with your insurance carrier, we must collect your co-payment at the time of your visit. If parents are divorced, the parent or guardian who is bringing the child must pay the co-pay at the time of the visit. If a grandparent or aunt is bringing your child to the doctor, he or she must pay the co-pay at the time of the visit.
Do I need to bring my insurance card each time my child is seen, even if none of the information has changed?
Yes, we need to see your insurance card at each visit.
New Patient Information for Newborns
What do I need to bring with me to my newborn child’s first appointment at Northside Pediatrics?
If your child is a newborn, you will need to bring your insurance card and your co-payment.
How do I get insurance coverage for my child?
Parents need to add their child to their insurance policy BEFORE the child is thirty days old. Even though your child is covered as a newborn in the hospital, insurance companies still require you to formally add your child to your policy after you go home from the hospital. Failure to do so could result in the insurance company refusing to cover your child. You may call your insurance company using the toll-free number that is listed on the back of your insurance card.
Is Dr. Hoenes affiliated with hospitals in Macon?
Dr. Hoenes has privileges at both Navicent Health and Piedmont Macon Medical Center.
What is the schedule of visits to your office after my baby is born?
Our providers use the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule for visits. The schedule may vary slightly according to your child’s needs but generally, we will see your child within the first week of his/her discharge from the hospital, at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, and then annually. Download our office’s schedule of visits here.
New Patient Information for Older Children
What do I need to bring with my child for our first appointment at Northside Pediatrics?
- Fill out and deliver the new patient questionnaire.
- Your child’s immunization record and any other records of your child’s health. We can order a copy of your child’s health record from your child’s previous doctor and will need the doctor’s name, phone number, and fax number. You will need to sign a medical release requesting that health information.
- Print the Medical Records Release Form, fill it out, and sign it. You can fax it to our office or directly to your previous doctor.
- Copy of your child’s insurance card.
- Insurance co-pay.
Baby Questions
Why, how, and how often should I breastfeed my baby?
There are many documented benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby. There are numerous articles to help you, but you can start with the following:
How much and how often should I feed my baby who is bottle feeding?
How do I help my baby with constipation or diarrhea?
How can I help my baby who is spitting up after feeding, and when should I call my doctor about this?
How much sleep does my baby need?
Sleep is important for your children, and is important to their growth and development. Children sleep a great deal during their early years, and by age two have usually spent more time asleep than awake. Sleep patterns and needs for children vary. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following amounts of sleep during a 24 hour period:
- 0-2 months: 10.5-18 hours
- 2-12 months: 14-15 hours
- 1-3 years: 12-14 hours
- 3-5 years: 11-13 hours
- 5-12 years: 10-11 hours
- 13-18 years: 8.5-9.5 hours
What is responsive feeding?
- AAP Resource: Is Your Baby Hungry or Full?
- Helpful Video
- For more information, visit the Strong4Life website.
Child Questions
What can I do to help my child with diarrhea?
Generally, you can treat milder cases of diarrhea without consulting our office. The following article will give you guidelines for home care and also help you evaluate when you need to call our office for additional advice or to have your child examined.
How can I help treat my child who is vomiting?
What dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) does my child need?
Acetaminophen Dosage Chart: Download
When does my child need to come in for well check-ups & immunizations?
Please reference our Schedule of Visits PDF here.
What do I do if my child is a picky eater?
- AAP Resource: Tips for Feeding Picky Eaters
- Helpful Video
- For more information, visit the Strong4Life website.